Ice-making apparatus.



W. McCORMIOK. ICE MAKING APPARATUS. APPLIOA'IION rum) JULY 10, 1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A? I am H w M 1M0 My! L Mm A A .(NWQX n fiw X V W. MoGORMIGK.

1GB MAKING APPARATUS.

nruouxon rum) JULY18,1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

2 BHEETS SHEET 2.

'f INVENTOR.

' 42 Wllll'ii "Cormlck. By 0 6424.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED $TATES PATENT OFFIGE.

WILLIAM MUCORMICK, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0 THOMAS C. WAND AND ONE-FOURTH 'IO C. I". MCDOWELL, BOTH O SNOHOMISH,

WASHINGTON.

ICE-MAKING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Application filed July 18, 1912. Serial No. 710,297.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM MCCORMICK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Vvashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice- Making Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for making ice, and particularly consists of improvements in apparatus for making can ice from raw water, whereby the product is improved in clearness, the core is reduced in size and the simplicity, adaptability, general reliability and freedom from difficulties in handling the device greatly lITIPIOVQd UPOII.

The object of my invention is to improve and simplify such devices, particularly along the lines above indicated.

My invention comprises the parts and combinations of parts which are hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings accompanying herewith I have shown my invention embodied in the form which is now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of a freezing tank of a can system showing my apparatus in use. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the. same taken from a position at right angles to that used for Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing the construction of the reducer connection between the lateral header and the drop pipe which en' ters the can. 1 Fig. 5 shows, in perspective, a short section of one of the hinged covers for the tank.

' A system which-has been proposed and put into use for the making of clear ice from raw water by the can system, involves, as its essential principle, the continuous injection of air into the water in the can while freezing, this acting, by its circulation effect upon the water, to remove the air disengaged by the process of freezing. This process has been demonstrated to be capable of producing clear ice and to be a success, at least as long as the apparatus works satisfactorily, but numerous practical difliculties in the operation of the apparatus have developed, which greatly decrease its practical value. Among these difficulties are the freezing of moisture in the air supply pipes, the formation of a snow ball upon the end der of the discharge pipe, the necessity of extracting the moisture from the air before using it, and the necessity in many systems, of using a special type of can or tank structure and extra time and labor in hand ling. With my improved apparatus I employ a freezing tank and cans of the type which has long been standard in the manufacture of can ice from distilled water.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are shown a section of a freezing tank with the cans in place, the structure being, in the main, standard, varying from this only as particularly pointed out.

The tank 10 is designed for containing the freezing brine. It is divided into narrow sections by the joists 11, between which the cans 1 are placed. The type of covers which I prefer for the tank consist of doors 2 and 20, each wide enough to cover half the width of a row of cans of any length found convenient or desirable. These are hinged, preferably to each other, in pairs, so that they may be turned up to expose the row of cans.

One of each set of covers, the side 2, has its outer or swinging edge, rabbeted, as at- 23, so that when both covers are down a groove or channel remains extending centrally over the row of cans and of a size to receive an air distributing lateral or secondary header so that it is entirely below the level of the tog of the covers. 1

he reduced outer edge section 23, of this cover, is notched centrally over each can position, through which notch 24, a pipe may be dropped into the can below for the supply of air thereto. The other cover 20. is rabbeted, so as to shut down upon the edge of the other cover 2.

Alongside the freezing tank is installed a header 31, which is supplied with air unressure from any suitable source of supp y. This ,ressure needs not be great. I have found t at pressures of from two to five pounds are satisfactory. With this are connected the distributing laterals, which as here shown, consist of short pipe sec tions 3 and conneetin Ts 30. This pipe may be made of a sing e piece tapped at intervals for the reception of the supplies with which the drop pipes are connected. These laterals are connected with the header 31 in any manner permitting convenient connecg" v amina iimi and disconnnsh :2 valvi s A shorbhese used for this connrciinii I The. drop gripes; which arra rd each T 36, are shown in riui? an a lar sczila in Fig A shorhwctinn f pipe clnsed at.- the twp, depends tiara this is wnneata-d by a fie? "3 conductor, a rzii'iher pipe V an Eran pipe 42, is {:13 sum lilg A reach iveli tors; l the bottom of the can. The lawn; and m pipe has a, fender i3, cmnposed 0t snme material Will??? is @niuch poorer c mduster (if heat than iron as of rubber.

as by nniiins 33 and The wl' cnnnects with the Y eaten} ,Ward (illmfi in the, in side (if the H l 1 T and has a small hole (i0 11;, has side just below its and. Thruumi this the air asca was I 1 n a u u In simili but Re ular guantiti min the drcp a: v a pipea By having this hole, small 50 that 1b ance head of the watnr in dlfi'erent cans makes no material difierenu in the blowing 0f ivz ter intn thn indixidnal sans. the hole. 46 at; as great an eler sible prs'reiits any small or S*-"fil*3 WlliQll may ha in i no tha huh it was .4 We and t hsad-sr, frmn 'he l'iody the lab back any if the air a 1 ;mn is; 11h? freezith tlic Tin: with their clizirgr .3- 3 mmm, are of l Weight than an 14ml l'i'wliHIlQ (if the brine 5e thai there is a trndrncy for the cans to rise, as; is shown iii {he seiznnd can. in Fig. 3, or that 01% beneath the ma arts which are raised. T0 SQIHPQ nroper lSl'lXl'liEli'ilOll at th s cans, and als-zv in secure anciiratn plumb ing tliereef, I place blocks 21 npnnthe under Sides 0f the ciiirgrb', these being of a length to tit snugly between thjoists 1L prefsr that.- these be provi d with IIOH Wear plates These are of sari: tliiclmegs that Whsn the covers are turned down, tl'ie-y will engage thr mp edge of the cans and deprcs chem t0 the desired level and will also level er luinh them up, sti that. ihey aid plural coni eqng ntiy, aagcu itniy pfisulflllfid, Wiili the pipes i22 centrally placad therein,

This apgzir- When ice i127:

1 Big 33099 rd t0 header 31, air turned 0n, and oil cover 20, is 1 ed. l /"hen carers ara closed the myrtle A &, and piiiinhing Mocks Lil the edr 'e of cans to an: all to the gihirnh, Th5

s til top f same level and t0 raring than all Placing 101i *pvsmale of (int c i'instantly until. the water is all fFOZeIl exregit a small. quantity as indicated by Cellillkll core in Fig 3, this view showing ihe care in its greatest extent. In the niher directisn this is quite thin. 'This unfrozen remnant (if Water .cantains most of the impu ities contained in the original water This L13Eld out and the s ace reiilhad with fresh, clear Willifil. Th9 latdisconnecied at the union and re inured from the cans aftr pumping out the unfrozen water. It is not replaced again, the Writer of ihe core freezing Without disturbzmae. This forms a central core of cloudy or nnntransparent ice. The quan tity of ice rcntainrd 1n the core reduced to 'sei y' small limits, usually to 5% of the cake.

Thai flexible connectinn of the pipe 42 with. the header which is s'ecured by using the rubber tube srction 4:1, permits ready swinging movement of thepipe '42. Ohservation has shown that while the air is constant swing; mg increment "its Weight, is however, enough tn retain it close to the central axis of the can. Fm successful operation itis necessaryto have sufiicient weight in this pipe to prevqnt the Water currents produced from .l and hnlding the "pipeover to Where tie); in supotbre been usen the pipes I and haw barn carried to one side aw" frozen to the cake.

I have k n ii. fender 43 of rubber as surrounding the lnwer and of this pipe. This feiidrr prrvents actual Contact of the pipe with the ice, thus preventing the metal pipa from freezing in. I am thus able, with safety, t0 greatly reduce the volume of the (c-re before having to withdraw the pipes. A plant equipped has been operated [or months without freezing in a pipe, the percentage of being reduced to (his irnphrtant characteris ic of my inveniinn is placing" the air pipes mitside the freezing tank, thernhy protecting them fi'o'n'i the low iemprrni .res and preventing any dzm fir if tliei r framing up. The moisture which may b9 Contained in the air will be largel trapped in the lateral header 3. becaus'r (if planii I the dischnrg winning at an 7 the liiiwer side of the lateral. This moibiure f raninved from the. headm' by inclining it. when renmved upnn 00mph: tion of the frrezing of the raw of (21113. The pipe -52 cannzit fI'EQ? 25.6 i is immerr'sed in unfrozen wateiz .ihe: pipr 22 cannot. be- 003116 troznn t0 the calm DQ031198 it IiCYQl' 8011195 min sent it therewith.

It has been dnmnstrated by continuous daily nperation under minn'iercial conditions, that it is unnecessary to provide any special 11195. for renioving'moisture from the air.- lna air may be taken direct from the zitmosphere and discharged through the It r pipes into the freezing water Without any intermediate treatment designed to free it of moisture. There occurs, under these conditions. no freezing of moisture at any point in or upon the pipes. The ice made with lhl apparatus is as clear as the best disiilhalwvater ice and has a smaller core. In stead of having a Wedge base of cloudy or white ice, the base is perfectly clear and the wore consists of a thin blade. extending from u mlltlfl distance above the lower end to the top.

Another important practical feature is placing the laterals in grooves or channels in the rover-a, so that the surface of the tank i smooth. permitting trucking over it or working upon it in any manner desired or necessary.

It is but a 'rnoments work to disconnect r conn t any lateral. The number of cans 50 i tron: one lateral may be made any lile amount. A r w of ten cans have lttttl operated from one lateral with com- )ltflt' satisfaction ll": covere :5 and 20 may he held in prope p 'in-n upon the supporting beams by a no pint; 1'2, which are placed on the line of hinging: and enter between the hinged edges of connected covers. The edges of the covers may he grinned to receive these pieces. This permits complete removal of the covers whenever necessary.

it has horn demonstrated by continuous "act l operation under ordinary working renditions. that the apparatus above de- --'-'riheii will nuke can ice from raw water, which is fully equal to and really superior in quality to can ice made by any of the standi-ud apparatus from distilled water. and that it is no more likely to give trouble than the usual distilled-water ice plants. It also possible to produce as large a quantity with the same labor.

li'hat I desire to patent is:

t. In an apparatus for making clear canicrfrom raw water, the combination \iith the cans, of a metal air-discharge pipe for ca h can extending substantially from the upper term of the can downward and a fiexh lilo suspmn-tion therefor permitting t'rce latcral movement of the lower end of the pipe.

2. In an apparatus for making ice by the can system. a pressure air header extending centrally orer each row of cans. an air-clischarge pipe for each can extending from the header downward into the cans and each c mposed of a n'letal pipe extending throughout substantially the distance from the surrice oi the Water downward. and a flexible pipe se tion connecting said depending pipe with the header and forming a iloxible suspension support and air supply tin-refill.

3. An apparatus for making clear canice from raw water comprising an air diswas charge pipe for each can, a support therefor permitting free lateral movement of its lower end, and a inn-metallic. fender surrounding the lower end of said pipe.

4. An apparatus for making clear canice from raw water comprising an air discharge pipe With n each can extending sul stantially from the surface of the'watcr downward, a hose section for each pipe forming the supporting and air supplying means therefon and a non-metallic fender surrounding tln lower end of each pipe.

5. In an apparatus for making can-ice, a tank cover composed of a pair of hinged sections for each can row, their swinging edge coming together. one section having notches in its swinging edge for the passage of air discharge pipes.

(3. In an apparatus for making candoe, a tank cover composed of a pair of hinged sectional covers for eaclrrow of cans, having their freely swinging edges centrally over the row of cans and notched for the passage of air-discharge pipes and can depressing and leveling members beneath and depressed by said covers when the latter are closed 'down.

7. In an apparatus for making can-ice, a tank provided with means for locating the cans therein in alined rows and sectional covers for-said tank, each section being of a size to cover substantially half of a row of cans, said coxers being cut away upon the edges which extend over the renters of the cans. to torn: a recess for the reception of an air sup rlying header.

In an apparatus for making can-ice a tank providedwith means for locating cans therein in alinerl rows and, covers having a pipe recessing channel in their upper surfaces located centrally over the center line of the cans.

.3. In an apparatus for nmking can-ice. a tanlt provided with means for locating the cans therein in alined rows. and a tank tuttl composed of hinged sections. each covering half of one row of can positions.

10. In an apparatus for n'iaking (innit-e, t1 tank provided with mean for locating the cans therein in alincd rows" and a cover therefor. composed of sections. each covering ne halt of one row of can p sitions, said covers being hinged along the line hetwecn said rows of can positions.

11. In an apparatus for making can-ice, a tank provided with means for lo 'ating the cans therein in alincd rows, a cover for said tank composed of sections, each adaptt'tl to cover half of a row of can-positions, said cover sections being hinged along the side edges of the rows of can positions. and having notches at their freely ringing edges for the passage of air discharge pipes.

12. In an apparatus for making can-ice, a tank provided with means for locating the cans in alined rows, and a cover there for composed of sections, each adapted to cover heif of one row of can-positions, said sections being hinged along the linerbetweeo said rows oi ompositions to a section cov ering the adjacent row.

13* In an apparatus for making ceirice, a tank having cover supports extending thereover and provided with means to: lo eating the cans in aimed rows. 9. cover composed of sections each adaptedcto cover half of a row of can positions, and meansor correctly registering the covers consisting of pins projecting upward from the cover supports along the line between compositions.

.14:- In an apparatus for making can-ice, a tank, cover supports 1-=-.r;.tcnding o er the tank and serving to position the cone in alined rows, 22. cover comnoscd of sections, each covering half of a row of can positions, and having can depressing and lot-cling cleats adopted to enter between the cover supports covcrzz being hinged together in pairs, and covern sitioning means carried by the cover supports and adapted to enter between the. hinged edges of the covers,

15. In an op inns ior making can-icc, a tank, joist ex ding over the tank, forming cover sup; rte and uing the cans, covers hingei'l together in p; 's and each of a width to "UVQY snhsantiaily half of one row of compositions, the freely swinging edges of the covers being shaped to form a rabliet evening upiszirdiy when the covers are closed. down and having notches, con trail over the onga iiions. communicating with the tank and rorci pceizioning girojcctions ttII'FiUil by the joists and entering between the hinged edges of the covers.

it In an apparatus for suppiying air to water while freezing the some, a supply her lei having a series: of tliscbarge connections, each. supplied through an opcnin located above the imiion'i oi the supply 0 mnilii in the header to thereby provide a moisture irup.

if", in Waiter wl for suppiy ng air to some, a header havit int: discharge :slt ,c the bottom of its i' form :2 moisture trap. ii'ntus for making ice by the can ystem, mums for sup 'il ving oil to the rotor iii the wins While frcczii J. (011)- prising a lnici'nl bender having a s ries f drop pipes perumnentiy scoured thereto :ind having their siippiy passage located well above the bottom of th pnesagfe in the lateral header, whereby said header may act as a moisture trap, and means for detachably connecting said lateral header with a fixed source of supply.

19. In an apparatus for making ice by the can syslem gncans for su iplying air to the water in the cans while freezing, compri ing a lateral header adapted to extend over a row of cans and provided with means for dctaohably securing it to a fixed ore of supply of air under pressure, a scrier l f drop pipes fixedly secured thereto and having their ends. extending upwardiy wit in and across the opening in so id header and has ing its supply opening in its upper 5. 513, whereby said header may act as a moisture trap, and means for supporting said lateral header above the can covers with the drop pipes depending into the cans.

20. In a can-system ice making plant, the combination with covers for the cans having channels in their up rsurface extending, over each row of cans, o air supply pipes adapted to lie in said channels, said covers also having holes located in said channels, one over each can position, and pipes connecting with the air supply pipes and extending through said holes into the cans.

21. In an apparatus for making ice by the can system, the combination with a tank adapted for the reception of the cans, a cover for the tank divided into sections each adapted to cover substantially half of a IOW of cans, one section over each row of cans extending slightly beyond the center line of the row of cans and having said central edge rahbeied to form a channel opening upward and also having said edge notched centrally over each can, with an air supply header adapted to lie in said channel and having drop pipes connected therewith and edapted to pass through said notches into the cans.

in an apparatus for making ice by the can system, a tank cover composed of sections, each adapted to cover substantially half of a row of cans, the adjacent covers of adjacent rows being hinged together and the supports for said covers, having posi tioning members entering between their hinged edges.

23. In an apparatus for making ice by thd can. system, a tank cover divided into separate sections for each row of cans, each section consisting of two parts meeting substantially on the center line of the cans, one of these sorts being rabbcted on its cenilial edge to iorni a channel or groove opening upwardly, and being also notched to form openings communicating, one with each of the cans covered thereby.

2%. In an apparatus for making ice by the (on system, a tank cover composed of sections, each covering substantially half of a row of cans and hinged along the line between the rows of cans. one section for each row of cans having its swinging edge rabbeted on its upper side and notches cut therein, one over each can, said channel and notches being adapted to receive the air supplying pi es 25. In an apparatus for making can-ice, sectional tank covers rabbeted to form pipereceiving channels in their upper sides and having holes in said channels communicating with the tank space and adapted to receive air-discharge pipes.

26. A cover-support for ice-freezing tanks, consisting of beams spaced to conform to one Width of the cans used and having cover-locating upward projections, arranged in lines, extending transversely of the beams and spaced to conform to the other Width of the cans used.

27. In a can-ice making apparatus a tank, cover supports consisting of beams spaced apart to conform to one Width of the cans used, cover-locating upward projections spaced to conform to the other width of the cans used, and sectional covers, located by said projections.

28. An apparatus for making ice by can system comprising a tank, cover-supporting beams dividing the tank into sections, each adapted to receive a row of cans, a cover composed of sections extending transversely of and resting upon said beams and each extending over a series of said beams.

29. An apparatus for making ice by the can system, comprising a tank, cover supporting beams dividing the tank into sections, each adapted to receive a row of cans, a cover composed of loose sections extnding transversely of sai beams and extending over a series of can-positions in said row and means for locating said cover sections lengthwise of the beams.

Signed by me at Seattle, Washington, this 12th day of July, 1912.

. WM. MCCORMICK.

'Witnesses:

B. THOMPSON, ALEX. C. MACDONALD. 

